Porcelain shelf bracket



Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,723,408 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. CHAMBERLAIN Ann CHARLES 'rsonun iv, or TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

PORCELAIN SHELF BRACKET.

Application filed Jul 24,

Our invention relates to improvements in porcelain shelf brackets and it more especially consists of the fe'atures hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

The purpose of our invention is to provide a self-fastening shelf bracket; that hides the joining edges of the wall tile through the use of a double base which also insures greater rigidity; that has an entrance groove, a resting ledge and a retaining stop for a plate glass shelf when two brackets are used in conjunction to support the shelf; that, by reason of the retaining stop formed in the right and left hand brackets the accidental lifting of the shelf is entirely avoided; and that also may provide means for automatically holding the shelf underneath the retaining stop if desired.

With these and other ends in view, we illustrate on the accompanying drawing such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad underlying features of our invention without limiting ourselves to the specific de tails shown thereon and described herein.

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a portion of the shelf assembled on one of the holders.

In practically carrying out our invention, we may form our bracket from moulded ma terial which is burnt into porcelain in any of the well known processes, though we find that we are able to avoid a second heating as is usually employed when the glaze is applied to articles in the biscuit form. We do the entire operation in one heating for a longer period of time. This gives us a product that does not craze whereby we are able to permanently secure a beautiful white porcelain.

Our shelf bracket comprises a base 1 on which a secondary base 2 is formed. From this a tapering four-sided bracket 3 extends outwardly far enough to provide a ledge 17 on which the shelf 10 rests. The ledge 17, at its inner end, terminates in a groove 9. This groove in an outward direction becomes gradually wider due to the sloping top wall 8 running into the upper face of the pedestal 3 at 7. Near the extreme front end 4 of the pedestal 3, the ledge 17, after leaving the ver- 1925. Serial No. 45,840.

undercut edges 13 and a central dove-tail groove 1 1 formed parallel to the shelf 10. The top and bottom faces of the projections 11 have grooves 12 formed thereon. The purpose of the undercut edges 18, grooves 12 and dove-tail groove 14, is to effectively lock the bracket in the plastering 16. From Figs. 1 and2 it will be seen that the edges of the opening in the tiling 15 are covered by the base 1 which avoids the necessity of closely fitting the bracket to the opening in the tiling.

If desired, non-corroding springs 18 may be placed in the grooves 9, one end of the springs passing through openings 19 and terminating in a right angled bend or loop to prevent the spring being lost.

The plate glass shelf 10 is first pushed against the springs 18, sufficiently far so that the front corners of the shelf 10 will slip under the curved stop 6 through the pressure exerted by the springs. If the springs 18 are not used, then the shelf 10 is simply pushed into the slots 9 and allowed to rest on the ledge 17 while it is drawn forward to pass under the stops 6. It will be seen that our shelf brackets are sturdy in all their parts and capable of effectually serving the purpose for which they have been devised. This construction avoids the drilling of holes in the glass, the use of screws, nuts etc., thus making it an exceedingly easy thing to replace a shelf that may have become accidentally broken.

Our shelf bracket is easy to install, for the reason that the supplementary base 1 rests against the tile wall, and the brackets are spaced the proper distance apart while the plaster is still relatively soft by inserting a shelf 10 on the ledges 17 with the vertical walls 5 in fairly close relation to the end edges of the shelf. The ends of the shelf being squarethey serve to properly align the brackets through their engagement with the vertical edges 5. From Fig. 1 it will be seen that the facing edges of a pair of brackets are at right angles to the supplementary base 1 Which insures the easy alignmentof all the parts on the wall.

WVhat we claim is:

1. In porcelain shelf brackets, a tapering bracket, a flanged base integral therewith, a sub-base extending beyond the bracket base, an undercut projection extending rearwardly from the sub-base said projection having a dove-tail groove on its inner face, and a plurality of small grooves on the undercut edges of the projection.

2. In. porcelain shelf brackets, a bracket having a downwardly sloping notched groove formed in one wall thereof, ashelf plate in the groove, a stop engaging the upper front edge of the shelf plate, and means at the rear of the groove adapted to automatically press the shelf plate forward to hold the same in engagement with the forward end of the groove.

3. In porcelain shelf brackets, a tapering bracket, a side projection forming a ledge along one face of the bracket, a flange above and spaced apart from the ledge said flange being beveled upward, and forward on its under face adapted to admit. the easy insertion of a shelf plate, and a short flange above the ledge positioned near the front end of the bracket.

In testimony whereof we aihx our signatures.

CHARLES H. CHAMBERLAIN. CHARLES T SCI-IUDIY. 

